Actuating device for aerosol dispenser having timing control



Aug. 27, 1968 w. F. KOLODZIEJ ACTUATING DEVICE FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER 'HAVING TIMING CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1965 INVENTOR. WAL TER E KOLODZ/EJ A TTORNEY 27, 6 w. F. KOLODZIEJ 3,398,863

ACTUATING DEVICE FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER HAVING TIMING CONTROL Filed Dec. 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GB INVENTOR. WALTER F KOLODZ/EJ ATTORNEY 3,398,863 ACTUATING DEVICE FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER HAVING TIMING CONTROL Walter F. Kolodziej, La Salle, Il!., assignor to General Time Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 517,022 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An attachable timing mechanism for automatically and periodically operating a valve of an aerosol container to dispense a spray of the containers contents. A Spring is gradually compressed or armed as a cam stud is traversed from the low point to the high point of a rotatably driven helical cam track and then, as the cam track high point is rotated past the stud, the spring is released to force the cam track high point against a lever thereby depressing the valve. The cam track is driven by a timing motor through a gear train which may be shifted between a fast position, a slow position, and a neutral position.

This invention relates to timing devices and more particularly to novel improvements for actuating automatically and periodically a spray dispenser, more commonly termed an aerosol container or can. More specifically, the apparatus of this invention is adapted to automatically and periodically control the opening and closure of a valve to release a measured or metered amount of pressurized liquid into the atmosphere at predetermined interval of time.

The pressurized liquid container that is used with the timing device of this invention is provided with a springurged valve stem which projects upwardly from the container top and when the valve stem is depressed releases a spray of atomized fluid from the container. The valve may be of the type which discharges a measured quantity of spray from a reservoir chamber that forms part of the valve upon each full depression of the valve stem and allows the reservoir to refill when the valve stem is permitted to elevate or close under the urge of the valve spring. Such type of valve is very well known to those skilled in the art of aerosol dispensing.

In brief, the mechanism to be more thoroughly described hereinafter comprises a portable and compact timing device having a pair of spaced, circular plates or mounting means. The upper plate supports a drive source which is preferably a synchronous motor. A gear train is mounted between the plates and is rotated in selected timed sequences by the motor pinion or timed driven member. The gear train includes an elongate pinion which is enmeshed with the last gear of the train. The last gear has a cam fixed thereon. The last gear and cam form part of a subassembly and are rotated in unison by the elongate pinion of the gear train. The last gear and cam are urged in a linear direction by an operating spring which forms a part of the subassembly such that the track of the cam constantly bears on a cam stud that is fixed in the lower of the circular plates. When one portion of the cam, herein called the high point, is rotated beyond the cam stud, the operating Spring suddenly snaps the subassembly in a linear direction whereupon the high point of the cam rapidly pivots an operating end of a valve actuating lever which depresses the aerosol can valve to effect an aerosol spray. When the high point of the cam is rotated beyond the operating end of the valve actuator, the customary internal spring of the valve is effective to elevate the liberated operating end of the valve actuator to permit closure of the valve and the start of a new spray cycle.

nite States Patet G W 3,393,863 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 The duration of the spray cycle is selective by provision of a novel gear differential which may be manually shifted by a shift lever that is provided with a shift handle to which a shift knob made readily accessible on the outside of the casing is fixed. With such provision the spray cycle may be chosen at the discretion of the user to alter the periodicity of the spray cycle; or the differential may be shifted to a neutral position to terminate or suspend a spray cycle without disconnecting the power source. Such feature is highly desirable during a can changing operation.

Devices for automatically and periodically dispensing a pressurized fluid from an aerosol container are well known, but in general find resistance in commercial acceptance because they are faulty in operation and therefore unreliable. Others have been rejected due to their being either noisy in operation, cumbersome, unattractive or expensive.

On the other hand, the assembly of the present invention is compact in structure and readily portable, attractive in appearance and quiet in operation. It will become readily apparent hereinafter that the instant valve control mechanism is simple in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved spray dispenser for periodically and automatically operating the valve of an aerosol can.

Another object is to provide a motor driven rotatable and reciprocal actuating assembly which is adapted for gradual linear movement when rotated to spread out the work load of the motor and is first conditioned and then suddenly released to effect rapid operation of an aerosol can valve.

A primary object is to provide manual shift means for selectively altering the periodicity of a spray cycle.

In keeping with the above object, a further intention is to provide the manual shift means with readily accessible manipulating means for selectively setting the shift means in a fast, a slow or a neutral position.

Another object is to provide actuating means in contact with a valve mechanism and in close proximity with a portion of the actuating assembly to effect rapid and quiet operation of the valve when a spray is effected.

Another object is to provide a relationship between the rotational speed of the actuating assembly and the duration of dwell thereof on the actuating means to thereby determine the time interval that the lever is operated.

A further object is provision of a simple camming device that is associated With the actuating assembly to cause movement of that assembly in a selected direction and also serve as a guide for the actuating means.

A prime object of this invention is to provide an aerosol dispensing unit with selective timing cycles that is simple in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the mechanism of the present invention, showing the mechanism selected for a fast speed cycle and at a period in the cycle just prior to actuating the valve of an aerosol can. Some of the support posts for the mounting plates are omitted to allow clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective which illustrates the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but the mechanism is shown slightly later in the cycle when a valve operation has been effected; and

FIG. 4 is a view also similar to FIG. 1 but shows the gear train differential selected for slow speed cycling.

Referring now to the drawings, a compact timing mechanism which includes an aerosol can mounting means is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The assembly is supported by a pair of circular plates 12 and 14 which are separated by a plurality of posts 15. The top plate 12 mounts a motor 16 which is secured thereto as by spring clips 18. Motor 16 is a commercially available A.C. type of the commonly known synchronous variety. A pair of pillars 20 are also fixed to top plate 12 and serve to secure a circular cover 22 as by screws 24. Screws 24 are thread into pillars 20 after the cover is fitted over the assembly 10 and over the upper portion of an aerosol can 26. A grommet 28 is pressed into a hole provided in the upper portion of the cover 22 to accommodate insulated lead wires which supply electric power to the motor 16 when connected to an electric supply source by means of the usual male plug (not shown).

Fixed to the bottom plate 14 of the timing assembly, as by swaging or the like, is a mounting bracket 30 having a circular aperture 31 in the center thereof. The aerosol can 26 is filled with a pressurized liquid mixture and is provided with the well known valve assembly. The reciprocative stem of the valve through which the liquid mixture is dispensed is indicated at 32. A member 34, forming part of the valve mechanism and herein termed a valve head, is provided with a circular recess 36 (FIG. 2) that snugly fits over the upper portion of the valve stem 32. The circular recess blends into a small bore 38 provided in the front wall of the valve head 34. It is well known to those skilled in the art that when the valve head 34 is depressed, the valve stem 32 is also depressed, and the valve is actuated to open condition whereupon the pressurized fluid mixture is released through the small bore 38 in the valve head to emit an aerosol spray. The valve open position herein is termed the operated position.

The customary bead 40 is provided at the top of can 26 and fitted within the bead 40, adjacent the upper portion of the valve assembly, a generally circular insert 42 is fixed at the planar portion of can 26. Insert 42 is provided with a plurality of upstanding tabs 44 formed integral therewith which are angled outwardly, as best seen in FIG. 2. The insert 42 may be of a plastic material that will recover after being slightly deformed. The lower portions 46 of tabs 44 act as gripping edges when the can 26 is mounted on the bracket 30. Accordingly, to prepare the unit for operation, tabs 44 are yieldingly entered into the circular aperture 31 until the lower portions 46 are flush with the base of the bracket whereupon tabs 44 recover to grippingly and frictionally mount can 26, as seen in FIG. 1. The tabs 44 maintain the valve head 34 oriented with respect to an elliptical. opening 48 cut out of cover 22 during reciprocation of the valve head.

With attention now directed to the timing and actuating apparatus of the invention, a motor output pinion 50, herein termed a driven member, is adapted to rotate a mechanical movement or gear train, generally indicated at 52, when the motor 16 is connected to a power source. Driven member 50 is rotated clockwise by motor 16 and is meshed with a reduction gear 54. A first wheel or slow speed pinion 56 is staked to gear 54 and pinion 56 is made fast with a first shaft 58 as by force fitting or the like. A second Wheel or fast speed pinion 60, vertically spaced from slow speed pinion 56, is also force fitted on shaft 58. Thus driven member 50 is adapted to rotate gear 54, pinions 56, 60 and shaft 58 counterclockwise. Shaft 58 is journaled at its upper and lower reduced portions in plates 12 and 14, respectively.

A gear differential or shiftable assembly generally indicated at 62 comprises a gear bushing 64, a third wheel or slow speed gear 66, a fourth wheel or high speed gear 68 and an elongate pinion 70. Assembly 62 is mounted for free rotational and linear movement on a second shaft 72 which establishes a common axis therefor. After such mounting, shaft 72 is fixed at its upper and lower ends to plates 12 and 14, respectively. Bushing 64 has staked to its upper portion slow speed gear 66 and to its lower portion high speed gear 68 and elongate pinion 70. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, pinion 60 is meshed with the lower or high speed gear 68 and is adapted to rotate the assembly 62 clockwise. Bushing 64 is turned down or grooved at the approximate central portion thereof and accepts a yoke portion 74 of a shift lever 76 (see FIG. 2). The yoke portion 74 serves to axially shift the shiftable assembly 62 to either enmesh the first wheel 56 with the third wheel 66 or, alternatively, to enmesh the second wheel 60 with the fourth wheel 68. The details and purpose of such arrangement to be set out hereinafter.

An actuating assembly comprising a compression spring 78, a last gear 80, a cam 82 and a cam bushing 84 is mounted on a third shaft 86. Gear 80 and cam 82 are staked to the lower portion of cam bushing 84 and form a subassembly. Moreover, gear 80 is provided with a depression, indicated at 81 in FIG. 2, and cam 82 is provided with a positioning hole to further solidify the union of gear 80 and cam 82. Cam 82 is generally cup-shaped and has a track 83 of a generally helix configuration to provide a low level 83a and a high point 8312. A collet 88 is fixed to the upper portion of shaft 86 and serves to contain spring 78. Upon assembly, the compression spring 78 is fitted over bushing 84. Gear 80, cam 82 and cam bushing 84 are then mounted on shaft 86. The upper portion of spring 78 nestles about and is contained by collet 88 while the lower portion of spring 78 rests atop last gear 80. A jig may be provided to fit over the top side of collet 88 and the underside of cam 82 to effect slight compression of spring 78. Shaft 86 is then mounted between upper and lower plates 12 and 14 and the upper and lower ends of shaft 86 are fixed to plates 12 and 14, respectively, as by swaging or the like and the jig is removed. Shaft 86 establishes a fixed axis for the subassembly of last gear 80, cam 82 and bushing 84; such subassembly is adapted to be rotated clockwise by elongate pinion 70. A stationary means or cam stud 90 is fixed in lower plate 14 and serves to gradually elevate the subassembly in a linear direction when pinion 70 rotates last gear 80 at the start of a spray cycle. That is, when the cam track 83 is rotated on cam stud 90 from the low level 83a to the high point 83b, the subassembly is driven upwardly or, in a selected direction, along the axis of shaft 86 in response to rotation of cam 82. Thus it is important to note that the subassembly is mounted for rotation about and reciprocation along the axis of shaft 86.

An actuating lever 92 is hingedly mounted at one end thereof as by a stud 94 which is fixed to the bottom plate 14. The opposite or free end of lever 92 is provided with an operating end which includes an angular extension 95 that reaches into and through an aperture 96 provided at the central portion of plate 14. An upper, rounded portion 93 of the operating end of lever 92 projects a short distance beyond stud 90 to provide an engaging surface for the high point 83b of cam 82. The rounded portion 93 is so formed to establish a short dwell for high point 8315 when it is rotated beyond cam stud 90 during a cyclic excursion of cam 82 and to facilitate rapid recovery for the operating lever together with the valve mechanism at the end of a spray cycle. Moreover, rounded portion 93 from which angular extension 95 is formed is aligned with the track 83 of cam 82 and in close proximity thereto.

In operation, the motor pinion or driven member 50 rotates the last gear counterclockwise via the movement 52. Cam 82 rotates in unison with gear 80 and the cam track 83 is rotated from the low level 83a (FIG. 3) to the high point 83b (FIG. 1); during such excursion the subassembly of cam 82, gear 80 and cam bushing 84 is gradually elevated and spring 78 is gradually compressed. When the high point 83b is rotated beyond the cam stud 90, spring 78 suddenly snaps the subassembly downwardly in a linear direction whereupon high point 83b engages the rounded portion 93 of operating lever 92 which now pivots about stud 94 and extension 95 depresses the valve mechanism to effect an aerosol spray. As can be observed in FIG. 1, for example, high point 83b is arranged a very short distance above the operating end of lever 92 and thus immediately engages rounded portion 93. The valve mechanism is thus substantially squeezed to operated position. The operation is rapid and quiet. The valve operation is necessarily rapid, as it is well known to those skilled in the art that due to the nature of the so-called metering valve, gradual lowering of the valve mechanism to operated position results in malfunction. That is, the valve mechanism when gradually depressed will more often than not sputter and spit or dispense in drippings instead of a steady, well-defined spray. Moreover, the dwell of high point 83b on rounded portion 93 is of short duration. More specifically, when the assembly is shifted downwardly to establish the fast speed operation, the durational dwell of high point 83b on portion 93 is approximately fifteen seconds; when the assembly is shifted upwardly to establish the slow speed operation, the durational dwell of high point 83b on portion 93 is approximately thirty seconds. In either instance the valve mechanism is not subjected to unnecessarily prolonged periods of operation under pressure, as the reservoir of a metered valve is emptied in a second or two, the valve needs to be held operated for only a short duration. Furthermore, it has been found that prolonged operation of the valve mechanism under pressure causes deformation of the well-known tubular structure of the valve reservoir chamber, results in leakage of the pressurized mixture about the chamber seal and consequently malfunction.

Turning now to the selective shifting means, shift lever 76 is staked to a shift lever bushing 98 and the assembly is placed about the upper portion of a detent post 100 which serves as a smooth slideway for bushing 98. The detent post is then fixed between upper and lower plates 12, 14 with the yoke portion 74 of lever 76 entered about the grooved portion of bushing 64.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the shift lever 76 is a unitary part that may be formed from a blank of sheet metal and includes a first planar section 102 which is oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to post 100. Section 102 has yoke portion 74 formed at the end thereof for fitting the grooved portion of bushing 64 to thereby establish a yoke and bushing interengaging means. Shift lever 76 also includes a second planar section 104 that is bent substantially perpendicular to the first planar section 102. Section 104 extends away from yoke 74 and partially enters a cutout 22a in cover 22 when the unit is assembled. Section 104 provides a shift handle onto which the slotted end of a shift knob 106 is frictionally pressed. The solid end of knob 106 is positioned on the outside of cover 22 and serves as a manipulating medium for shifting the assembly 62. Shift lever 76 also has a third section 108 which is bent substantially perpendicular to the first planar section 102. The lower end of section 108 terminates in a flexed end or cog 109 which is adapted to engage one of plurality of detent notches 110, 112 or 114 provided in detent post 100.

Accordingly, when lever 76 is shifted to the up position by means of knob 106, the assembly 62 is axially elevated along shaft 72 whereupon the slow speed pinion 56 meshes with slow speed gear 66 and cog 109 of section 108 snaps into detent notch 110 to establish a first axial position for assembly 62 and maintains the slow speed setting (FIG. 4). Pinion 70 thus rotates the last gear 80 at a slow cyclic speed.

When lever 76 is shifted to the down position by means of knob 106, the assembly 62 is axially lowered along shaft 72 by yoke 74 whereupon the high speed gear 68 meshes with the fast speed pinion 60 and cog 109 snaps into detent notch 114 to establish a second axial position 6 for assembly 62 and maintains the fast speed setting (FIGS. 1-3).

When lever 76 is shifted to the central or a third axial position by means of knob 106, cog 109 snaps into detent 112 and gears 66, 68 are maintained in the unmeshed position. In this position the gear train is broken and cam 82 ceases rotation; the pinion 50 continues to rotate the first shaft 58 and gears 56, 60 thereon via gear 54 but without consequence.

For one operational example, when the shift knob 106 is moved to the down position to enmesh gear 68 with gear 60, the gear reduction would be such that pinion 70 would then rotate last gear one revolution every seven and one-half minutes to effect a fast periodic spray cycle. When the shift knob 106 is elevated to the FIG. 4 position to enmesh gear 66 with gear 56, the gear reduction would be such that pinion 70 would then rotate last gear 80 one revolution every fifteen minutes to effect a slow periodic spray cycle. During replacement of aerosol cans, or at the discretion of the user, knob 106 may be moved to the central position to suspend or terminate the spray cycle.

Having described the invention by making detailed reference to the preferred forms of the elements thereof, it is obvious that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore understood that this invention is not limited to the exact arrangement disclosed or the examples set out except as limited by the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for automatically causing repeated periodic aerosol sprays at selected time intervals by operation of an aerosol can valve comprising:

means for securing said device in operative association with said aerosol can valve;

a timed driven member; and

a mechanical movement responsive to said timed driven member to operate said aerosol can valve at selected time intervals, said movement having a mechanical speed change mechanism, and said mechanical speed change mechanism including driving wheels and a shiftable assembly having:

a shift member formed from sheet material, said shift member including a first planar section;

a post oriented substantially parallel to the direction of axial motion of said shiftable assembly, said post having a smooth section and a section formed with a plurality of detents;

means mounting said first planar section of said shift member on said smooth section of said post with the plane of said first planar section oriented substantially perpendicular to said post for permitting sliding movement of said shift member along said smooth section of said post;

said shift member and said driving wheels having interengaging means whereby sliding of said shift member along said post causes shifting of said driving wheels;

said shift member further including a second planar section bent substantially perpendicular to said first planar section to provide a manual shift handle; and

said shift member further including a third section bent substantially perpendicular to said first planar section and having a cog formed therein which engages in said post detents to define a plurality of operating positions for said speed change mechanism.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said interengaging means comprises:

a yoke-shaped extension of said shift member first planar section; and

a bushing fixed to said driving wheels,

said bushing having a groove to receive and embrace said yoke-shaped extension to provide a shift arrangement for said driving wheels.

3. A device for automatically causing repeated periodic aerosol sprays by operation of an aerosol can valve mechanism comprising:

means for securing said device in operative association with said aerosol can valve;

a timed driven member;

a cam having a substantially helical cam track, said cam rotatable about a fixed axis;

means mounting said cam for rotation about said axis and for reciprocation along said axis;

a movement responsive to said timed driven member to rotate said cam at a selected speed about said axis to thereby establish a cyclic cam excursion;

stationary means engaging said cam track to drive said cam in a selected direction along said axis in response to rotation of said cam;

spring means biasing said cam in a direction opposed to said selected direction, said spring storing energy as said cam is driven in said selected direction;

said cam track having a high point whichmoves beyond said stationary means during said cyclic excursion of said cam thereby releasing said cam for movement in said opposed direction in response to said spring; and

valve operating means located in the path of said cam, said valve operating means responsive to said motion of said cam as it is driven in said opposed direction by said spring means to cause actuation of said aerosol can valve.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein:

said means engaging said cam track comprises a stud extending substantially parallel to said selected driven direction of said cam;

and said valve operating means comprises a lever extending substantially perpendicular to said selected driven direction of said cam, said lever having a hinged end and an operating end, and means maintaining said hinged end in place;

said operating end formed with an opening surrounding said stud for orienting said operating end with respect to said cam track, a portion of said operating end projecting a selected distance beyond said stud, whereby said projecting lever portion is engaged by said cam track high point during movement of said cam in said opposed direction for operating said lever, the relationship between the rotational speed of said cam and the length of said selected distance determines the time interval which said lever is operated; and

said operating end of said lever having an extension for actuating said aerosol can valve mechanism when said cam track high point engages said projecting lever portion.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein:

said means engaging said cam track comprises a stud extending substantially parallel to said selected driven direction of said cam;

and said valve operating means comprises a lever extending substantially perpendicular to said selected driven direction of said cam, said lever having a hinged end and an operating end, and means maintaining said hinged end in place;

said operating end formed with an opening surrounding said stud for orienting said operating end with respect to said cam track, a portion of said operating end projecting a selected distance beyond said stud and in close proximity to said cam track; and

said operating end having an angular extension reaching from said projecting portion, a part of said angular extension in constant contact with said valve mechanism, whereby when said cam track high point moves beyond said stud during said cyclic excursion said projecting lever portion is immediately engaged by said cam track high point to quietly squeeze said valve mechanism to operated position.

6. A device according to claim 3 including a shaft and a collet fixed thereto, and wherein:

riodic aerosol sprays at seelcted time intervals by operation of an aerosol can valve comprising:

means for securing said device in operative associawith said aersosol can valve;

a timed driven cam member; and

'a mechanical movement responsive to said driven memher to operate said aerosol can valve at selected time intervals, said mechanical movement including a mechanical speed change mechanism including driving wheels shiftable between at least two diiferent positions for shifting said movement between at least two different speed ratios relative to said timed driven member to thereby select at least two different time intervals for operation of said aerosol can valve, said driving wheels when shifted to one of said different positions establishing a predetermined cyclic excursion for said cam;

means mounting said cam for rotation about said axis and for reciprocation along said axis;

means engaging said cam track to drive said cam in a selected direction along said axis in response to rotation of said cam;

spring means biasing said cam in a direction opposed to said selected direction said spring storing energy as said cam is driven in said seelcted direction;

said cam track having a high point which moves beyond said cam track engaging means during said cyclic excursion thereby releasing said cam for movement in said opposed direction in response to said spring; and

valve operating means located in the path of said cam, said valve operating means responsive to said movement of said cam to cause actuation of said aerosol can valve at the end of a selected time interval.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,911,841 11/ 1959 Miller 74-342 2,980,296 4/ 1961 Edelstein et a1 222- 3,165,238 1/ 1965 Wiley 222-70 3,179,296 4/ 1965 Cairelli ZZZ-70 3,199,732 8/ 1965' Strachan 222-70 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner, 

